The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has launched a “Love Box” initiative to provide support to families which may have experienced food vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Started Monday 11th May, 2020, Langley Park Palletization Centre, Lauders Agro-processing Plant, La Croix Palletization Centre and Rose Bank Community Centre will be the purchasing stations for produce from farmers for redistribution. Farmers will be permitted to come to these facilities and retail produce to persons wishing to purchase.
The Ministry of Agriculture will provide support to these farmers in the areas of food packaging and transportation. The process of distribution will be managed by churches and civil society organizations working in conjunction with the Ministries of Social Development and Ecclesiastical Affairs. Purchasing and delivery would be done over a 3-day period (Monday to Wednesday) on a fortnightly basis.
The Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Saboto Caesar noted, “This project will create a significant internal market for farmers. This marketing and distribution support will ensure that our farmers can increase investment in production at a time when SVG’s request for food to be exported to the region is at its highest.”
